Abraham J. Isserman

Abraham J. Isserman (May 11, 1900 – April 22, 1988) was an American lawyer and activist who defended Gerhart Eisler in 1947 and CPUSA leaders in the Foley Square trial (1949): he was found in contempt of court by Judge Harold Medina, sentenced to four months in jail (1952), and disbarred.

[3][4] His clients included Edith Berkman, the New Jersey chapter of the Congress of Industrial Organizations,[2] and the union called the American Newspaper Guild.

[13] (The Federal government believed that the full "Eisler defense committee included: Max Bedacht, Dr. Felix Boenheim, Charles Collins, Eugene P. Connolly, Gustav Faber, Ida Guggenheimer, Isserman, King, Albert Maltz, and Walter Mueller.

On February 17, 1947, Life (magazine) magazine ran "The Career of Gerhart Eisler as a Comintern Agent" whose subtext read "Prototyp of a professional, Moscow-schooled revolutionary, he is now charged with conspiracy against the government of the U.S."[15] During proceedings, Isserman stated, "I charge that this whole procedure is in bad faith and savors to me of something more.

[17] In 1949, Isserman served as one of five attorneys led by Harry Sacher as lead counsel to represent 11 members of the CPUSA's national board, accused of conspiring to teach and advocate the violent overthrow of the Government.

[2] During appeal of the conviction, Isserman and colleagues accused trial judge Harold R. Medina of improperly favoring the prosecution.

Isserman defended CPUSA members during the McCarthy Era .
Defendants Robert Thompson and Benjamin J. Davis during Foley Square trial , which Isserman helped defend